Music
my practice (and how i got there)
A little bit of information of what I do as a musician and how I got there.
Exploration and reinvention
As a musician I am always exploring. It’s part of my nature to choose very varying projects to work on, stick with it until it’s how I want it, then move on to something entirely different. Currently this means that I’m working on arranging and creating own music. The past year I have started to work with live electronics and I’m loving the creation process, even if it is very scary.
I’m an intuitive player – I play what comes to me and if I like it, I stick to it. This goes for ‘traditional’ classical music – for as far we can speak of that in the world of classical saxophone – but especially for contemporary genres. I like to combine new saxophone music with my personal explorations into improvisational pieces (and maybe some own works).
A little more back in time...
My musical studies have been varied and haven’t always been limited to just conservatory education. In fact, I started with a Liberal Arts degree (University College Roosevelt, Middelburg) where I took courses in musicology and educational sciences, but also some computer sciences and art history (and for some reason, economics. We don’t talk about economics.)
A little more back in time? I was born in 1997 in Oost-Souburg, Zeeland, the Netherlands. When I was seven years old I started with recorder lessons, and after two years of happy squeaks I decided to switch to the saxophone. I say ‘decided’, but my mum picked saxophone for me because I literally could not distinguish a trumpet from a french horn. Luckily, it was a good choice 🙂
I took lessons at the local music school (where I teach now) and happily continued making a lot of noise on the saxophone. As a teenager I met Andreas van Zoelen, with whom I subsequently studied during my years at university, and with whom I later also did my Bachelor of Music. Currently I am broadening my musical perspectives with a Master of Music.
Arrangements
Some of my projects are also available to others. Here is a small selection of arrangements that you can either buy or get for free. If you want any information on acquiring scores that don’t have a download link, drop me a message!
Saxophone orchestra
- Two Dances & Romance – Josef Ascher. Available at Baton Music. Listen here.
Originally 3 separate piano pieces, arranged into a suite.
Instrumentation: SS AAAA TT BB Bs - Prelude – Max Bruch. Contact for score and parts.
Originally for 2 piano’s, also available for symphony orchestra.
Instrumentation: SS AAAA TT BB B/Bs - Prelude in G minor – Sergei Rachmaninov. Contact for score and parts.
Performance by Fontys Saxophone Orchestra in 2019.
Saxophone Quartet
- Etudes Tableaux, Op. 33 – Sergei Rachmaninov (several movements). Preview of 1 movement here.
Originally for piano, some movements deviate in original in structure, the link explains why.
Instrumentation: SATB - Enchanted – Taylor Swift. Purchase at SheetMusicPlus or Purchase at SheetMusicDirect
Instrumentation: SATB or AATB. Intermediate-level.
MIDI-preview:
Saxophone Trio
- Organ Sonate No. 4, mvt 2 – J.S. Bach. Contact for score and parts.
Originally for organ. I have 2 versions; one transcription without articulation and performance suggestions, and one with some suggested articulations.
Instrumentation: SAB - Sarabande – Francis Poulenc. Contact for score and parts.
Instrumentation: BBB
Solo saxophone
I make transcriptions for students all the time, but these arrangements are published:
- Stiekem – Maan & Goldband. Purchase for alto sax, tenor sax, Bb clarinet, or flute.
Symphony Orchestra
Prelude – Max Bruch. View score preview here. Originally for 2 piano’s, also available for saxophone orchestra.
Wind band (fanfare)
Preludes I & II – George Gershwin. View score preview here.
Jazz combo
Bernie’s Tune for small jazz ensemble – Bernie Miller. Download for free here.